Editors ́ Picks

India has a chance to lead by example

EDITOR:

Neelo Aysha Scholz

Still on the subject of rape here at fairplanet, the British filmmaker of the commanding Delhi gang rape we spoke of on 03.03 has been told to pack up and leave India and her film banned from broadcast, at least domestically. “We can ban the film in India. But this is an international conspiracy to defame India. We will see how the film can be stopped abroad too” declared the Parliamentary affairs minister.

The documentary, India’s daughter, is about the notorious gang rape of Jyoti Singh on a moving Delhi bus, and the public reaction in the aftermath. In an interview, the film reveals the lack of remorse and deplorable attitude of at least one of the rapists. News broke two days ago over his comments that the girl may have still been alive had she not fought her attackers back. He seems to blame her for not being a ‘decent girl’. India’s decision to ask Leslie to leave and block her broadcast followed. The authorities intend to ban it worldwide and on any media possible.

Udwin describes the documentary as “an impassioned plea for gender equality…” and iterated that rape is a global issue. She explained to Indian broadcaster, NDTV that the men and women who had taken to the streets after the incident had inspired the film.

She has found vocal support in India such as Anu Aga, an MP who says what the rapist, Mukesh Singh, said on film reflects the views of many men in India and Sunitha Krishnan, a campaigner against rape, who says the film is a platform for collective condemnation of such mindsets.

The traditional approach to sexual assault and rape of women and minors in many parts of the world is to sweep it under the rug. In India and Pakistan, out of fear of bringing shame to the parties involved, women are forced to hide the incident and get on with their lives by their families. The government’s actions now are a magnified reflection of this approach. The message that men get then, is that sexual violence towards women is acceptable and that women have little choice in the matter.

India, the world’s largest democracy and up and coming player on the world stage has no place for such outdated, unacceptable attitudes. Open discourse is a tenet of democracy and in this case, a crucial first step in tackling a shameful attitude. Indian mothers, fathers, teachers, boys, girls and men need to know that men do not deserve protection from society when they have perpetuated casual or serious sexual violence. The Government of India needs to allow for this public discourse and take responsibility to address the unacceptable culture endemic in their country. In tackling this issue openly, they may even lead by example on the world stage.

Storyville- India’s daughter will be broadcast on BBC 4 in the UK on March 8, 2015.

04.Mar

March 04th, 2015

Sudanese army officers ordered rape of women in Darfur

EDITOR:

Murat Suner

According to Human Rights Watch Sudanese army forces raped more than 200 women and girls in an organized attack on the north Darfur town of Tabit in October 2014, Human Rights Watch said in a report released last month.

The United Nations (UN) and African Union (AU) should take urgent steps to protect civilians in the town from further abuses. The 48-page report, “Mass Rape in Darfur: Sudanese Army Attacks Against Civilians in Tabit,” documents Sudanese army attacks in which at least 221 women and girls were raped in Tabit over 36 hours beginning on October 30, 2014.

Sudanese army forces carried out three distinct military operations during which soldiers went house-to-house and looted property, arrested men, beat residents, and raped women and girls inside their homes. Human Rights Watch documented 27 separate incidents of rape, and obtained credible information about an additional 194 cases. Two army defectors separately told Human Rights Watch that their superior officers had ordered them to “rape women.”

Since the attacks, the Sudanese government has blocked UN investigators from entering the town to try to prevent victims and witnesses from sharing information about the crimes. Multiple victims and witnesses reported that government officials threatened to imprison or kill anyone who spoke out about the attacks.

The mass rapes would amount to crimes against humanity if found to be part of a widespread or systematic attack on the civilian population.

Jyoti Singh had just completed her medical exams to become a doctor. Speaking excellent English, she spent nights working in a call centre from 8pm until 4am, slept for three hours, then studied. Her ambition was to build and run a hospital in her family’s village. “A girl can do anything,” she would say, writes Yvonne Roberts in The Guardian.

According to Roberts in India a rape "occurs every 20 minutes. In England and Wales, 85,000 women are raped every year. In Denmark one in five women has experienced a sexual assault. Sexual assault, rape, acid attacks, murder, domestic violence, the termination of female foetuses, sex trafficking and female genital mutilation are all manifestations of male power."

Leslee Udwin spent two years making the documentary "India’s Daughter" on the horrific rape and killing of Jyoti Singh, and on how for the next 30 days across India. It shows how women and men demonstrated on the streets of the country’s cities, calling for the equality recognised in India’s constitution but never delivered.

Against that background Udwin asks, has the attack really led to a change in gender equality in India?

Shockingly ML Sharma, defence lawyer for the men convicted of Jyoti’s rape and murder says in the documentary “We have the best culture. In our culture, there is no place for a woman”.

Israeli-born Edwin asks “Why do men rape? I discovered that the disease is a lack of respect for gender. It’s not just about a few rotten apples, it’s the barrel itself that is rotten.”

India’s Daughter will be broadcasted on BBC4 on International Women’s Day, arch 8, and simultaneously shown in seven other countries including India, Switzerland, Norway and Canada.

According to the Guardian actresses Freida Pinto and Meryl Streep will attend a screening in New York on Monday 9 March, "launching a worldwide India’s Daughter campaign against gender inequality and sexual violence against women and girls. It begins by 20 million pupils viewing the film and taking part in workshops in Maharashtra, a state that includes Mumbai."

Boris Nemtsov, who was shot dead on 27 February in Moscow was a nuclear scientist, environmentalist and father. He was also a charismatic and influential figure in Russian politics, who rose to prominence serving under Boris Yeltsin and became an outspoken and active critic of Vladimir Putin.

This latter fact has made his death deeply troubling for many Russians and tens of thousands of people have already marched in Moscow under Nemtsov’s name, declaring that they are not scared. But what would they have to be scared of? Government repression: many believe that Nemtsov’s death was a calculated murder carried out by the Kremlin.

Nemtsov opposed Putin on Ukraine, his handling of the economy and many other matters. The march, held on Sunday, was initially planned to oppose Russia’s involvement in Ukraine, headed by Nemtsov, but the killing turned it into a mourning rally.

The Kremlin was quick to condemn the murder, Vladimir Putin calling it “vile” and vowed to find the killers. But many commentators have described this is a bluff. Leon Aron, writing in Foreign Policy magazine celebrated his friend’s life, but also described the central problem relating to this killing: the public will likely never have the truth as long as the current regime is in power.

The possibility of non-governmental involvement in the killing seems unlikely, as discussed by Shaun Walker. The possible motivations for Nemtsov’s death are numerous, but none seem so likely and potent as opposing the government critically, vocally and with substantial internal support.

Maybe Aron is right: maybe we won’t ever know who killed Nemtsov, or for what reason. But it had the effect of galvanising opposition. Not only were tributes heartfelt and many, but have enabled people all over the world to question the current regime with greater scrutiny. The killing seems to have exposed Vladimir Putin to criticism, including reminding people that many others have died in suspicious circumstances who opposed him.

It remains to be seen whether sustained opposition will continue with or without this fun, caring and critical man.

27.Feb

February 27th, 2015

Unleashed harassment of Jews

EDITOR:

Murat Suner

Religious differences lead to conflict, governments try to restrict religious practice or favor some religions over others - all of this is known. But it's getting worse.

A report from the Pew Research Center shows the pervasiveness of religious intolerance around the world in 2013, and finds that the targeting of Jews, in particular, has significantly increased each year since 2007.

The level of discrimination was most stark in Europe. Jews experienced harassment in 34 of the region's 45 countries, or 76 percent - by comparison, members of the group were only harassed in 25 percent of countries in the rest of the world. Muslims also experienced widespread harassment in Europe, with incidents happening in 32 out of 45 countries, or 71 percent - in the rest of the world, this only happened in 34 percent of countries.

But what's different about the discrimination faced by Jews and Muslims is that, in general, Muslims face discrimination from both governments and communities, while "Jews tend to be harassed by individuals or groups in society rather than governments," said Peter Henne, lead researcher of the study.

Discrimination against Jews and Muslims in Europe should be equally troubling, but despite preventing efforts by governments, incidents reported by The Atlantic show unleashed anti-semitism and racism:

- Following an argument, several residents of the Parisian suburb Seine-et-Marne attacked their Jewish neighbors with a crowbar, shouting anti-Semitic slurs.

- An unidentified group poured tar over metal tiles embedded in the streets of Komarno, Slovakia, which were installed to commemorate victims of the Holocaust.

- "Hitler was right" was painted in graffiti beside a swastika on the wall of the town bullring in Pinto, Spain, before a local celebration; city officials left the graffiti up temporarily "so that the celebration could take place without delay."

- During a soccer match in Pozna, Poland, fans shouted, “Auschwitz is your home, off with Jews" at the opposing team. An investigation into the incident was discontinued, officials said, because it was unclear that the opposing team's fans were Jewish.

The BBC recently gathered some views of Europe's young Jews after Paris and Copenhagen attacks. One of them, Nicloas, 25, from France, said: "Some Jews want to leave to Israel and I'm okay with that. But I won't move to Israel because of fear. I think if someone needs to leave France, it's not the Jews - it's the haters."

26.Feb

February 26th, 2015

Are you us or them? A misleading understanding of loyalty.

EDITOR:

Murat Suner

Have you ever been asked whether you are loyal to your country? Muslim people in Great Britain have been now.

A BBC survey found that “95% of Muslims feel a loyalty to Britain”, but that there are “no similar measurements for the general public.”

Everbody relieved?

Wait, “one in four (27%) said that they had some sympathy for the motives behind the attacks in Paris on satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.”

Well, Suzanne Moore, an award-winning columnist for the Guardian, says in her opinion piece "I hate the union flag and I would scrap the royal family. But no one asks me to prove my Britishness."

So, what happens then? If I refuse to accept monarchy, because I consider inheriting power through blood bond as anti-democratic and based on a racist concept, am I illoyal then? Or do I just believe that my country should be more democratic and pluralistic?

Further, who defines loyalty and which group should be questioned? As Suzanne Moore points out, this poll drives the us-and-them mentality. It's polarizing society along misleading categories and values. In addition why would one think that Muslims are homogenous group? Would you ever think in this way about Christians?

Suzanne Moore offers her opinion on what is actually ultimately disloyal to this country: "To acknowledge the actual diversity, the range of opinion, belief and dissent that intertwines all of us into a nation."

25.Feb

February 25th, 2015

Why does Greenpeace interest those who spy?

EDITOR:

Neelo Aysha Scholz

Hundreds of secret intelligence papers from intelligence agencies around the world have been leaked to Al Jazeera’s investigative unit. Including communication within and between Britain’s M16, Russia’s FSB, Israel’s Mossad, Australia’s ASIO and South Africa’s SSA, they highlight the inner workings and highly politicized nature of modern day espionage. They reveal cooperation between agencies to carry out surveillance, of governments using information to squash political dissent and a keen interest in environmental agencies.

Yesterday Al- Jazeera and its partner The Guardian revealed how Greenpeace director, Kumi Naidoo, was seen as a threat to South Korea ahead of the G20 Summit there in 2010. Their National Intelligence Service (NIS) had requested South Africa for information on their citizen, labeling him as one of three “dangerous persons” ahead of the summit.

Greenpeace has long attracted the hostile attention of governments and corporations with its highly effective lobbying and direct action style. In 1985 the Rainbow Warrior, its flagship became the target of French Secret intelligence, in New Zealand, when on its way to protest against a French nuclear test, killing a photographer. The Guardian also reports, the FBI, undercover British police and corporations such as Shell and BP have targeted or used private security firms to spy on Greenpeace.

Among the spy cables, another document reveals the CIA’s involvement in climate change issues. Apparently interested in renewable energy, they worked with their partner agencies to explore “wind, solar biomass and geothermal for electricity and alternative fuels for transportation”. Though the reason for CIA’s enormous interest in climate change is not clear, it is possible that they anticipate potential conflict as a result of climate change.

Or as senior U.S. climate scientist Alan Robock expressed his concern that the CIA and other agencies are funding climate change research to learn if new technologies could be used as potential weapons. Robock said he had been approached by two men who said they were consultants for the CIA and who asked whether America would be able to detect another country trying to control the US weather, He added: “At the same time, I wondered whether they also wanted to know if others would know about it, if the CIA was controlling the world’s climate.”

24.Feb

February 24th, 2015

No Thinking Humanity in Jakarta

EDITOR:

Ama Lorenz

Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan, the ringleaders of the so-called "Bali Nine" drug smuggling gang, were arrested for trying to traffic heroin out of Indonesia in 2005 and sentenced to death the following year. Today an Indonesian court has dismissed the complaint on death row after President Joko Widodo had rejected an appeal for clemency. This was reported by the lawyer of the two death row inmates.

In Australia, the death sentence had caused consternation. More than 150,000 people signed a petition for clemency, members of the Australian show business organized a benefit concert in Sydney, even the Australian government had repeatedly requested clemency.

"Clemency is the prerogative of the president ... the state administrative court has no right to rule on the challenge", stated Judge Hendro Puspito. He said that the pair had 14 days to lodge an an appeal, and their lawyers said they would.

Tensions between Australia and Indonesia have dramatically heightened by the looming executions. That counts also for the relations between France and Indonesia. So has President Francois Hollande been unsuccessful active on behalf of Serge Areski Atlaoui. The French national had his 2006 life sentence upgraded to death in 2007. President Widodo rejected Atlaoui’s clemency appeal in January of this year.

According to Chanel NewsAsia Chan and Sukumaran are among seven foreigners - including citizens from France, Ghana, Brazil and Nigeria - who have lost their appeals for presidential clemency, the final hope of avoiding the firing squad.

Thomas Hobbes famously described human life as “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short”. Those five adjectives have become emblematic of a conception of human nature which understands that there is nothing redeeming about humans at heart.

It’s a vision which requires the state to have the necessary apparatus and powers to ensure that individuals are properly enjoined to it. The purpose of this enjoining is to deprive individuals of the ability to oppress, which they naturally would do, given they only care for their own interests.

And if you come to a similar conclusion when reading the papers, it’s probably not too surprising. Yes, you might think, the state probably does need greater surveillance powers to curtail potential terrorist threats; yes, greater intrusion into personal communications is warranted; indeed, sacrifice human rights if it saves lives.

But in Oslo, on Saturday, we were given an alternative vision of human nature and the possibilities for our societies, which often goes under- or even un-remarked.

Now, a potted history of Judeo-Islamic relations is probably not required. Suffice it to say that the relationship has not always been peachy, and fundamentalists of all stripes have sought to raise tensions between communities, with the recent killings of several people in anti-semitic attacks in France and Denmark.

At the protest, one of the organisers, Zeeshan Abdullah explained why it was necessary to not only challenge the growing tensions between the communities, but to the whole edifice of hatred, enmity and inter-communal violence: “humanity is one and we are here to demonstrate that," he said, and in a moving, clear protest, the protestors chanted “no to anti-Semitism, no to Islamophobia,".

Scandinavia is on high alert after the killings last week, and of course, since the brutal terrorist Anders Breivik killed 77 innocent people.

But the protest remind us that no matter what kind of logic we have about humanity in general, nor what path we seem to be indefinitely on, there is always another way- the way of understanding and mutual sympathy.

Image: Reuters

20.Feb

February 20th, 2015

Black is still beautiful

EDITOR:

Ama Lorenz

The tradition of the Black History Month dates back to 1926, when African-American historian Dr. Carter G. Woodson founded the „Negro History Week“ in order to educate the general public about Black history and achievements of African-Americans. Nowadays it is a month of observance celebrating Black history and culture all over the world.

Many movements rose from a growing conscious of the black world since. One was the slogan “Black is beautiful” spread in the 1960s as an international campaign.The Black is Beautiful movement became the most prominent in the writings of author Steve Biko in his book, the “Black Consciousness Movement” in South Africa. It also led to the Black Nationalist and Uhuru movement of the 60’s and 70’s where the world would be introduced to legends like Malcolm X, Frantz Fanon, Marcus Garvey and Elijah Muhammad.

Still many people hold concerns about black history being delegated to a single month and the "hero worship" of some of the historical figures often recognised. Morgan Freeman, a critic of Black History Month, once said: "I don't want a black history month. Black history is American history." Although there is some truth in these words, so black history is much more than only American history. Maybe the celebrations and events around the world are more in the sense of the words by Maya Angelou: "No man can know where he is going unless he knows exactly where he has been and exactly how he arrived at his present place."

Democracy Now! just published a newly discovered recording of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on December 7, 1964, days before he received the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo. He speaks about civil rights, segregation and apartheid in South Africa. We think a good reason to recall and honour the history.